Pipe cutting tool



Sept. 24. 1 4 J. D. BRACK El AL PIPE CUTTING TOOL Original Filed June 7, 1938 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 24. 1940' J. D. BRACK ET AL PIPE CUTTING TOOL Original Filed June 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 air Patented Sept. 24, 1940 -UNETEE STATES PIPE cn'r'rmoroor.

John D. Brack, Sulphur, and Lantrop'M. York,

Lake Charles", Lad 1 Application June 7, 1938, Serial No. 212,364 Renewed March '2, 1940 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a pipe cutting tool and particularly pertains to a tool especially designed ior use in cutting pipes in wells and the like.

t is an object of the invention to provide a tool of this kind which can be employed to out the pipe at any desired depth.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tool of this character so constructed and assembled whereby the cutters are caused to extend as a result of a rotative action and retracted as a- .result of fluid pressure.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of our improved pipe cutting tool whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of our invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying. drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the upper portion of the tool as herein comprised, certain of the parts being in elevation;

Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure 1 taken through the lower portion of the tool as herein disclosed, the ends A-B in the complete tool be- I ing in continuation;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec-,

- on the line 66 of Figure 1 As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, l denotes a tubular coupler for connection in a conventional way with a tubular string or pipe line (not shown) but which, as is well known,

extends above the ground surface and has op-' eratively engaged therewith suitable mechanism whereby the same may be rotated.

Threading, as at 2, within the lower portion of the coupler I is an elongated tubular tool body 3 of desired dimensions and threading, as at 4,

into the lower end portion of this body 3 is a block 5. This block 5 has depending from its central portion an elongated cylindrical tubular member 6, the bore l of which is open at both ends and extended up through the block 5. Freely sur- 5 rounding the member 6 is a sleeve 8, the same being maintained in applied position by a holding nut 9 threading upon the free extremity of the member 6 below the sleeve 8. The wall of the sleeve 8 is relatively thick and is provided in its 1 periphery at equidistantly spaced points therearound With the longitudinally disposed recesses it having their upper end portions undercut, as at H. Freely or loosely extending within these slots or recesses ID are the elongated holding 15 cleats or friction dogs l2 which are constantly urged outwardly by the springs l4 interposed between the cleats or dogs 12 and the bottoms of the slots or recesses 10. The upper ends o e cleats or dogs l2 are provided with the outstanding lugs l5 which eXtend within the undercut portions l l while the lower or opposite end portions of the cleats or dogs !2 are provided with the outstanding lugs l6 which extend within the open end portion of a cap member I! which 25 threads upon the lower portion of the sleeve 8. The lower portion of this sleeve 8 is preferably slightly reduced so that the periphery of the applied cap I! will be substantiall flush with the periphery of the sleeve 8. These lugs l5 and I6 30 provide means whereby the outward movement of the cleats or dogs I2 is limited. The cleats or dogs 62 are to have frictional contact from Within in a well pipe or casing whereby the lowered tool is eifectively maintained at desired depth within 35 the pipe or casing yet permitting desired rotation of the body 3 during a cutting operation.

Extending upwardly through the bore 1 of the member 6 andthe block 5 and for a desired distance upwardly within the body 3 is the elongated 40 rod t8 the lower end portion of which is threaded; as at E9, or otherwise fixedly secured to the central portion of the cap l1.

The body 3 is provided at points intermediate its ends with the opposed elongated slots 20 in respect to the levers 2|. lower end of the mandrel M and the applied material distance below the upper end of the rod l8.

Freely surrounding the rod [8 for movement lengthwise thereof in either direction is an elongated driving mandrel M. The lower end portion of this mandrel M is formed to provide an elongated and substantially cone-shaped operating member 26, the apex portion of which is upwardly disposed. The upper end portion of this mandrel M is formed to provide a second operating memher 2'! having its inner portion 28 substantially cone-shaped with its apex downwardly disposed. The tapered wall of the portion 28 of the member 2'5, as herein disclosed, is on a greater angle than the periphery of the member 26 and said portion 28 of the upper operating member 21 is of a length materially less than the length of the lower operating member 26.

Upon upward movement of the mandrel M the operating, member 26 will pass between and contact with the lower end portions of the dogs I2 and force the same together with the cutters or bits 22 outwardly to assure the desired cutting of a casing or pipe as the body 3 is rotated. Upon downward movement of the mandrel M the operating member 21, or more particularly the portion 28 thereof, will engage the upper beveled portions 29 of the levers 2| and thereby swing the lower end portions of said levers 2| together with the cutters or bits 22 inwardly of the body 3.

The intermediate portion 30 of the mandrel M is of such diameter and length toassure the desired .endwise movement of the mandrel M with Interposed between the block is a stabilizing spring 3| of desired tension and which, as particularly illustrated in Figurejle, is of a coil type surrounding the rod 18.

snugly engaged within the body 3 above the mandrel M is a piston P having its lower end continued by an elongated skirt or sleeve 32, and the piston P proper is provided with a surrounding depression or packing ring 33 to assure efiective coaction between the piston P and the body 3.

" The lower end of this piston P is provided with a recess or socket 34 to receive the upper end portion of the rod 18 so that said rod I8 will offer no hindrance or obstruction to the desired downward movement of the piston P. r Threading into, as at 35, or otherwise effectiveportion 3'! of the bore of which is outwardly flared or tapered. This sleeve or bowl member 36 is provided with the radially extending and oppositely directed pins or keys 38 which extend within the longitudinally disposed slots or keyways 39 provided in the wall of the body 3 in the upper portion thereof. It will, therefore, be noted that the sleeve or bowl member 36 readily moves with the piston P but is held against rotation independently of the body 3.

Within the tapered portion 31 of the bore of the sleeve or. bowl member 36 and at opposite sides of the rod l8 are the nut sections 40, the outer orback faces of which are tapered or flared complementary to the tapered or flared portion 3'! .of the sleeve or bowl member 36 so that as a result of upward movement of the piston P the nut sections 40. will be adjusted into and maintained in proper engagement with the threaded portion ll at the upper portion of the rod [8. This upward movement of the piston P is obtained by the expansible member 42 of requisite tension and which is herein disclosed as a coil spring encircling the upper portion of the rod l8 and interposed between the inner end of the piston P and the upper ends of the nut sections 43.

As the piston P is moved downwardly the resultant downward movement of the sleeve or bowl member 36 will readily allow the nut sections 40 to freely pass down along the threaded portion ll.

As is herein disclosed the nut sections 40 are carried by the upper extremities of the rigid arms 43 of desired length and which extend down through and below the sleeve or bowl member 36 and are pivotally connected, as at 34, within the radially disposed groove or channel 45 of desired width and depth extending across the upper or top face of the upper operating member 27.

When the nut sections 40 are in operative engagementwith the threaded portion 4| of the rod I8 and as the body member 3 is rotated to the right, the mandrel M will be caused to travel upwardly on the member [8 and thereby efiect the desired outward movement of the cutters orbits 22. It is to be stated that the spring 42 is of suificient tension to resist this upward movement of the mandrel M so that the piston P will have corresponding movement. The cleats 01' friction dogs I2 have sufllcient contact with the wellcasing-or well wall to hold the same against rotation as the member 3 is rotated whereby is assured the proper functioning of the tool. While not illustrated, it is to be stated that when desired the outer faces of the dogs or cleats I2 may be provided with the conventional biting shoulders to further assure the desired holding function of the dogs or'cleats.

After the completion of the cutting operation mud or other liquid pumped down upon the piston P will provide sufficient pressure to move the piston P downwardly suflicient to allow release of the nut sections and after the bowl member or sleeve 36 engages the upper end of the mandrel M said mandrel will bemoved downwardly to cause the upper operating member 21 to engage the lovers 2! and retract the cutters or bits 22 withinthe body 3 as illustrated in Figure 1 The toolcan then be readily withdrawn or adjusted to a second position for a further cutting operation.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a pipe cutting tool constructed in accordance with our invention is particularly well-adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the/precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out our invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

' We claim:

1. An inside cutting tool comprising a body, laterally movable cutting means carried by the body, a pair of longitudinally movable reversely tapered operating members carried by the body and selectively engaging with the cutting means for moving the cutting means relative to the body, said operating members being constructed and arranged to move in unison and in the same direction, means for moving the operating members in one direction whereby one of the operat- 2. An inside cutting tool comprising a body,

laterally movable cutting means carried by the body, a pair of longitudinally movable reversely tapered operating members carried by the body and selectively engaging withthe cutting means for moving the cutting means relative to the body, said operating members being constructed and arranged to move in unison and in the same direction, means for moving the operating members in one direction whereby one of the operating members will contact with said cutting means to move said cutting means laterally to cutting position, operating means for moving said tapered members in the opposite direction, means engageable with said operating means and active prior to the movement of said tapered members in the opposite direction to release said tapered members from engagement with the said first named moving means, said releasing means including nut sections carried by one of said tapered members, and means carried by the operating means to separate said nut sections.

3. A cutting tool comprising an elongated body, rock levers pivotally secured intermediate their ends to the body, a cutting member carried by each of the levers adjacent an end thereof, spaced operating members movable along the body, said operating members being assembled for unitary movement in the same direction, one of said operating members being disposed in a position for engagement with an end of each lever, the other operating member being positioned for engagement with the opposite end of each lever, threaded means for moving said lever operating members in one direction for contact with the levers to swing the same to move the cutting members to cutting position, and fluid pressure operated means for moving said operating members in the opposite direction to bring the second operating member in contact with the opposite ends of the rock levers to move the cutting members to an inoperative position.

4. A cutting tool comprising an elongated body, rock levers pivotally secured intermediate their ends to the body, a cutting member carried by each of the levers adjacent an end thereof, spaced operating members movable along the body, said operating members being assembled for unitary movement in the same direction, one of said operating members being disposed in a position for engagement with an end of each lever, the other operating member being positioned for engagement with the opposite end of each lever, threaded means for moving said lever operating members in one direction for contact with the levers to swing the same to move the cutting members to cutting position, and fluid pressure operated means engaging the second operating member to move the cutting members to an inoperative position.

5. A cutting tool comprising an elongated body, rock levers pivotally secured intermediate their ends to the body, a cutting member carried by an extremity of each lever, spaced operating members slidably carried by the body and having unitary movement in the same direction, said members being spaced apart so that one of said operating members will engage an end of each lever upon movement of said operating member in one direction and the other operating member engaging the other end of'the lever upon movement thereof in the opposite direction, threaded means for moving said first operating member in one direction to move the cutting members to an operative position, and fluid pressure operated means for moving the other operating member in the opposite direction to bring said cutting members to an inoperative position.

6. A cutting tool comprising an elongated body, rock levers pivotally secured intermediate their ends to the body, a cutting member carried by an end portion of each of the rock levers, spaced operating members sliding along the body, said operating members having unitary movement in the same direction, said operating members being so arranged with respect to the levers that one of said operating members upon movement in one direction will engage an end portion of each of the levers and the second operating member will engage the opposite end portion of each of the levers upon movement of said operating member in the opposite direction, operating means for moving said first named operating member in a direction to engage the levers, releaseable means connecting said operating means with said lever engaging member, means for releasing said lever engaging member from said releaseable means, and means effective upon release of said latter means to move the second operating member in the opposite direction.

7. A cutting tool as set forth comprising an elongated body, rock levers pivotally secured intermediate their ends to the body; a cutting member carried by each lever adjacent an end thereof, a pair of tapered lever engaging members disposed within the body in spaced apart relation and movable longitudinally of the body, nut sections carried by one of said lever engaging members, a threaded rod disposed axially of the body and engaging said nut sections and adapted upon rotation of the body to move said lever engaging members in one direction, means for holding the rod against rotation, means for releasing said nut sections from said threaded rod, and means effective upon release of said nut sections to move said other lever engaging member to lever engaging position.

8. A cutting tool as set forth comprising a body, a cutting means carried by the body and movable from an inoperative position substantially within the body to an operative position outwardly of the body, slidable reversely tapered means in the body engageable with said cutting means adapted upon movement thereof in one direction to move the cutting means to operative position and adapted upon movement thereof in the opposite direction to move the cutting means to an inoperative position, threaded operating means for moving said slidable means in said one direction, a second operating means for moving said slidable means in the opposite direction, and releasing means effective on movement of said second operating means to render said threaded operating means ineffective.

9. A cutting tool as set forth comprising a body adapted to be positioned in a pipe, a cutting means, means for movably mounting said cutting means in the body, threaded operating means active upon rotation of the body to move said cutting means to operative position, fluid pressure operated means for moving said cutting means to inoperative position, and means active upon movement of said fluid pressure operated means to disengage said threaded operating means.

10. A cutting tool as set forth comprising an elongated body, a pair of cutting members, means for movably mounting said cutting members in said body, operating means for said cutting members carried by the body, threaded means engageable with said operating means and active on rotation of the body to effect outward movement of the cutting members, and fluid pressure operated means independent of the rotation of the body to move said cutting members to inoperative position.

11. A cutting tool as set forth comprising an elongated body provided with openings, cutting members disposed in said openings and movable laterally of the body, an operating member for said cutting members disposed interiorly of the body and movable longitudinally thereof, means for moving said operating member longitudinally of the body upon rotation thereof, said latter means including a pair of threaded members, one of said threaded members being movable longitudinally with said operating member, means engageable with the interior of the pipe to hold the other of said threaded members against rotation to thereby effect longitudinal movement of the operating member upon rotation of the body, and means for disengaging said other threaded member.

12. A cutting tool as set forth comprising an elongated hollow member provided with opposed openings in a wall thereof intermediate the ends thereof, levers, means for rockably mounting said levers in said openings, a cutter secured to each lever adjacentan end thereof, an operating member disposed within the body and movable longitudinally thereof, a releasing member connected to said operating member and movable therewith, means active upon rotation of the body to move said operating member in one direction to thereby swing said cutters laterally of the body into operative position, and means disposed within the body to release the operating member, said latter means including means to effect movement of the releasing member to effect retraction of the cutters into the openings of the body.

13. A cutting tool comprising an elongated hollow body,-a pair of cutting members carried by the body and movable laterally thereof to operative position, means movable longitudinally of the body in one direction to move said cutting members to operative position, means movable longitudinally of the body in the opposite direction to move said cutting members to release position, threaded means for moving said first named means in saidone direction, and fluid pressure means for moving said second named means in the opposite direction.

JOHN D. BRACK, LANTROP M. YORK. 

